The Van Buren Conservation District hosted its second Backyard Symposium in February 2022 to help folks further transform yards into a haven with the environment in mind.

As native gardens become more popular, varieties of Michigan natives are being cultivated for hardiness, reliability, and/or ornamental value. When the shape and makeup of a plant changes, so do the interactions with pollinators, predators, and other species relying on the specific characteristics of the plant. What does this mean for the nativars we are beginning to introduce to our gardens? This presentation explores academic research on the topic and the recorded impacts of nativars.